Lock construction for narrow stile glass entry doors



Jan. 28, 1964 A. GROSSMAN LOCK CONSTRUCTION FOR NARROW STILE GLASS ENTRY DOORS Filed Oct. 25, 1960 A WQRA/EY United States Patent O 3,i19,474 LQCK CONSTRUCTHGN FR NARRW STILE GLASS ENTRY DORS Abraham Grossman, 9339 ea St., Northridge, Calif. Filed (ict. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 64,927 2 Claims. (Ci. 189-46) This invention relates to a lock construction for a narrow stile entry door characterized by the fact that the greater portion of the door consists of a sheet or pane of glass.

rlhe primary utilization of such entry doors is in conimercial establishments and the like where the fact that individuals approaching the door can see therethrough constitutes both a convenience and a safety factor preventing possible injury because of a persons approaching the door and being struck thereby. Therefore, it is most desirable that the glass area be as large as possible and such doors are conventionally provided with a peripheral sash construction hinged at one side with top and bottom rails and extremely narrow stiles which can be fabricated from any type of material but which are usually constituted by aluminum extrusions or the like.

Because such entry doors are located in business establishments and the like, it is, of course, necessary to provide locks so that the doors may be adequately secured. Due to the fact that the stiles which would ordinarily receive the locks are so narrow, it has been customary to resort to either one of two expendients. One of the conventional expedients is the location of the lock on the bottom rail of the door which, as a natural consequence, necessitates that the person locking or unlocking the door squat or bend over in order to operate the lock. A more expensive but somewhat more convenient alternative construction involves the cutting of the edge of the glass adjacent the stile. The modification of the door glass in the above described manner is an extremely expensive expedient and is basically unsatisfactory because the glass is weakened in a critical Contact area and because the resultant product is not a particularly attractive construction.

lt is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a narrow stile glass entry door which is characterized by the provision of top and bottom rails and narrow vertical Stiles, one of which is hingedly secured to the frame encompassing the door and the other of which is located adjacent the jamb opposite the hinged stile and which may be referred to as the free or swinging stile, said door being characterized by the provision of a lock which is mounted intermediate the upper and lower extremities of the free stile, the lock housing being secured in overlying relationship with the pane or sheet of glass encompassed by the rails and stiles and the lock housing being secured to the inner edge of the stile.

Therefore, the lock is located in a convenient position but the modification of the pane or glass to accommodate the lock is obviated due to the securement of the lock housing on the inner edge of the stile.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a door construction of the aforementioned character wherein the lock housing of the invention is applied in overlying relationship with the opposite sides of the pane of glass so that the door may be locked or unlocked from opposite sides thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawing which is for the purpose of illustration only and in which:

FlG. l is a perspective view of an entry door constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention;

FlG. 2 is a transverse, sectional View taken on the broken line 2-2 of FIG. l;

3,119,474 Patented Jan. 28, 19u64 ice FIG. 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the broken line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a View corresponding to FIG. 3 but showing thecomponent parts of the lock construction in different position; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the broken line S-S of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, l show a glass entry door 10 which is characterized by the utilization of a relatively large parie or sheet of glass l2. The pane or sheet of glass is encompassed in a sash 14 which consists of top and bottom rails 16 and 1S and stiles 20 and 22, the upper and lower extremities of the stiles being secured in operative relationship with the adjacent extremities of the rails.

The stile 26 at the right-hand edge of the door 10 is custoiriarily secured by means of a hinge to the adjacent )amb of a door frame, not shown. The other stile 22 constitutes the free or swinging stile of the sash 14 of the door.

In order to enhance the esthetic effect of the door and to utilize to full advantage the fact that a person approaching the door can see through the pane of glass, the thickness of the free stile 22 is reduced to a minimum, that is, the dimension of the stile 22 from the outer edge 24 to the inner edge 2o thereof is kept as small as possible while maintaining the structural rigidity and strength of the sash ld. As a result of the minimal thickness of the stile 22, it is impossible to mount a conventional lock construction on the stile 22 and, as previously indicated, the alternative expedients of mounting the lock in the bottom rail i3 or of cutting an opening in the pane l2 of glass are resorted to with the consequent di'iculties of operation and expense of installation.

It should be noted at this juncture, that, while the concept of my invention is particularly adaptable to the solution of the problem of providing a lock for narrow stile doors, the teachings thereof may be yapplied to entry doors having relatively wide stiles since certain of the advantageous aspects of the lock and stile construction of the invention may be incorporated in doors having relatively wide Stiles.

11n lorder to practice the teachings of my invention the free stile 22, whether constituted by an kaluminum extrusion or by some other type of structural member, must incorporate a bore 3% which extends from at least one extremity of said stile to a point intermediate the extremities of the stile 22 adjacent the grab railV 32. yIn lthe present construction the bore 3d extends from one extremity of the stile 22 to the other extremity thereof and said bore or passage 3d in the stile 22 is a natural consequence of the extrusion process. However, it is conceivable that in other equivalent constructions the bore might extend only from one extremity to an intermediate point in the stile and be formed in another manner, such as by drillinc or the like. C The stile 22, as best shown in yFlGS. 2-4 of the drawings, has its inner edge 26- divided into an inner portion 36 on one side of the pane 12 of glass land an outer portion 3S on the other side of said pane of glass by a slot 39 which receives the adjacent edge 42 of said pane of glass and the glazing strip 44 which encompasses said edge. A finish molding 48 is mounted, as best shown in FIGS. 2 `and 3 of the drawings, in an elongated receptacle 52 provided on the outer edge 24 ofthe stile 22.

Of course, it is not intended that the teachings of the invention be limited to any particular type of stile coristruction or to any particular extrusion coniiguration. iIt will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the principles of the invention may be applied to various extrusion `and stile configurations without material alteration of the component parts of the lock construction manufactured in accordance with the teachings of the invention.

In the present embodiment of the invention the lock construction is generally indicated at 60' and consists of two housings 62 `and 64 mounted in a manner to be described in greater detail below, on the portions 36 and 38 of the inner edge 26. The housings 62 and 64 underlie the grip or handle section 68 of the grab bar 32 and are thus concealed from view. Of course, a handle may be located in overlying relationship with each of the housings v62 and 64 on opposite sides of the door 10 in substitution for the grab bars 32 on the opposite sides of said door.

Each of the housings 62 and 64 is of identical construction and the component parts of the lock embodied in each of said housings are also identical. Therefore, only the component parts disposed in the inner housing 62 will be described, it being understood that the component parts of the other housing 64 are of identical configuration and construction and operate in the same manner.

The handle section 68 of each grab bar 32 is provided with a transverse bore or opening 74 in which is mounted the protruding portion of the rotary plug 76 of a cylinder lock 78 of conventional construction. The plug 76 associated with the housing 62 is adapted to receive a key 82 to permit the operation of the cylinder lock 78 in a conventional manner.

'Ihe housing 62 may, of course, be formed integrally as a casting with the handle section 63 of the grab bar 32, but, in the present embodiment of the invention, said housing is constituted by a separate casting fabricated from aluminum which is secured, as best shown in FIGS. 2-4 of the drawings, by means of screws S6- to the associated portion 36 of the inner edge 26 of the stile 22. It will be noted that the screws 86 also serve to secure the associated extremity of the grab bar 32 to the adjacent portion 36 of the stile inner edge 26, the screws 86 passing through coincident openings 88 in the stile and grab bar extremity and being received in correspondingly threaded bores 92 in the housing 62.

Therefore, the housing 62 is mounted in overlying relationship with the adjacent surace of the pane 12 of glass and is concealed behind the overlying handle section 63 of the grab bar 32. This particularly structural relationship of ythe housing 62 with the inner edge 26 of the stile and the .adjacent extremity of the grab bar 32 results in strength and rigidity and a convenient location not achieved by prior art constructions. Moreover, where the housing constitutes an integral part of the grab -bar 32 or handle, not shown, the installation of the handle or grab bar results in simutlaneous install-ation of the lock housing 62.

Moreover, the lock housing 62, being disposed in overlying relationship with the adjacent surface of the pane 12 of glass, can receive the various operative par-ts of the lock mechanism which could not be received within the narrow bore 30 of the stile 22 and, in addition does not entail the modication of the pane 12 of glass in any way whatsoever.

The cylinder lock 78 is mounted in a bore 96 of the housing 62, as best shown in FIG. of the drawing, said bore communicating with a chamber 102 which has a cover plate 104 constituting `a wall thereof. The cover plate 104 is secured in overlying relationship with the chamber 162 by means of screws 106 at the upper and lower extremities thereof.

A centrally located rib 108 divides the wall 110 of the chamber 102 opposite the cover plate 104 into two elongated recesses 112 and 114, as best shown in FIGS. 3-5 of the drawings. The centrally located rib 1133 has a circular recess 116 formed therein intermediate its extremities, said recess communicating with the inner extremity of the bore 96 in the housing 62. A tongue 122 is provided on the inner extremity or" the plug 76 and projects into 4- the circular recess 116 where it engages a corresponding opening in a pinion 124.

The pinion 124 is, as best shown in FIGS. 3-5 of the drawing, engaged with first and second racks 126 and 128 located, respectively, in the elongated recesses 112 and 114-. The pinion 124 incorporates a lug 13) which projects into the chamber 162 and has a pin 134 provided thereupon engageable in a corresponding bearing opening in the cover plate 104. Therefore, rotation of the pinion 124 by the tongue 122 of the plug 76 will be accompanied by corresponding rotation of the lug 150.

A pair of leaf springs 142 has its opposite extremities mounted in recesses 143 at the upper and lower extremities of the wall 116 of the chamber 162 and the leaf springs have their intermediate portions encompassing the lug on the pinion 124, thus tending to maintain the pinion 124 and the associated racks 126 and 12S in the inoperative positions shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

Mounted on the rack 126 is a lower actuating arm 144 which extends, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, through corresponding slots 146 in the left-hand wall of the housing 62, the associated extremity of the grab bar 32 and the portion 36 of the inner edge 26 of the stile into the elongated bore 30. Secured to the lett-hand extremity of the actuating arm 144 is an actuating linkage 148 constituted by a plate 150 and a connecting rod 152 which has a lower bolt 154, shown in phantom in FIG. 1 of the drawing, projecting from the lower extremity of the stile 22 for engagement with a corresponding strike in the door frame sill, not shown.

The left-hand extremity of the actuating arm 144 actually engages a corresponding opening 156 in the plate 150, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing, and the plate actually spans the substantially rectangular bore or passage 30 in the stile 22 and has its opposite edges guided by the side walls of the bore 30.

It is conceivable that in some installations only a lower bolt may be provided. In this regard, it should also be pointed out that a corresponding lower actuating arm 144 is provided in the outer housing 64 which engages an opening 156 in the plate 150, as best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. Therefore, the lower linkage 148 connected to the lower bolt 154 can be operated from either the inner or outer housing 62 and 64, respectively.

While the particular embodiment of the invention disclosed involves the utilization of two cylinder locks, it is, of course, not intended that the teachings of the invention be limited to the actuation of the bolt by a particular type of lock. Moreover, it is conceivable that instead of the lock incorporating a cylinder lock a knob or other actuating element may be connected to the pinion 124 to operate the same from the interior side of the door 10.

An upper actuating arm 164 is mounted on the rack 12S and engages an upper linkage 166 which consists of an upper plate and an upper connecting rod 173 secured to an upper bolt 174 protruding from the upper extremity of the bore 30 for engagement with a corre-I sponding strike, not shown, on the head of the door trame. The left-hand extremity of the arm 164 engages 1n a corresponding opening 176 in the upper plate. A pin 179 is secured in the housing 62 and retains the rack 123 in operative relationship with the housing.

Of course, an arm corresponding to the arm 164 mounted in the housing 62 is provided in the housing 64 and engages the upper plate 170 in the same manner as the arm 164 in the housing 62. It will be noted that the Wall constituting the outer edge 24 of the stile 22 is provided with openings 18), as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing, to permit access to the heads of the mounting screws When the components of the locking mechanism are in the position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing, the bolts 154 and 174 are retracted into the associated bore 30. The pair of springs 142 maintains the pinion 124 in the position, shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing, wherein the rack 126 associated with the lower actuating arm 144 is at the upper extremity of the recess 112 and the rack 12S associated with the upper arm 164 is at the bottom of the recess 114.

When the key 82 is inserted in the plug 76 of the cylinder lock 7S, the plug can be rotated to cause corresponding rotation of the tongue 122 on the inner extremity thereof. The rotation of the tongue 122 is accompanied by corresponding rotation of the pinion 124 and the lug 13%) thereupon.

When this occurs the rack 126 connected to the lower arm 144 is urged downwardly in the associated recess 112 to simultaneously carry the linkage 148 constituted by the plate and the rod 152 downwardly in the bore 311 and thus project the bolt 154 from the lower extremity of said bore. Similarly, the rotation of the pinion 124 causes the rack 123 in the recess 114 to be urged upwardly in said recess and to carry the upper arm 164 upwardly, thus urging the upper linkage 166 and the plate 171B and rod 172 constituting the same upwardly on the bore 30 to project the upper bolt 174 from the upper extremity of said bore.

It will be noted that the notation of the pinion in the above described manner is accompanied by simultaneous deflect-ion of the springs 142, thus placing the lug 139 on said pinion under a spring load. In FIG. 4 of the drawing, the lug .130 is shown in a horizontal position in-termediate its movement into the locked position in which it returns to a vertical orientation as shown in FIG. 3. When in locked condition, the rack 126 has its lower extremity disposed in the bottom of the recess 112 and the rack l12S has its upper extremity disposed at the top of the recess 1114.

Operation of the locking mechanisms in either the outer housing 64 or inner housing `62 is accompanied by corresponding movement of the component parts of the mechanism which is not `being actuated so that the pinion, racks and arms orf the associated mechanism move in the same manner and to the same extent as they do in the mechanism being operated.

1t is thus readily apparent that the principles of my invention render feasible the incorporation of a locking mechanism and, more particularly, the actuators therefor, in a convenient position in a narrow stile door without modification of the pane of glass incorporated in the door. Therefore, the advantages of a Wide stile, in terms of lock function, are achieved while the esthetic and practical advantages of the narrow stile are preserved. Moreover, the structural integration of the stile, handle and lock housings provides an uncluttered, clean effect and a structural rigidity not achieved by prior art construotions.

l claim:

1. In a glass door construction, the combination of: a sash consisting of top and bottom rails and spaced stiles operatively connected to the opposite extremities of said top `and bottom rails, one of said stiles incorporating a longitudinal bore and having an opening in the inner edge thereof intermediate its extremities, a bolt disposed in one extremity of said bore and adapted to be projected from or retracted therein to correspondingly lock or unlock said door; a single sheet ot glass mounted in said sash; an actuating linkage in said bore having an extremity connected to said bolt; a housing mounted in overlying relationship with said sheet orf glass and secured to said stile adjacent said opening; and a bolt actuator in said housing having a portion extending through said opening operatively connected to the other extremity of said linkage whereby operation of said bolt actuator Will cause corresponding movement of said linkage and said bolt.

2. In a glass door construction, the combination of: a sash consisting of top and bottom rails and spaced stiles `operatively connected to the opposite extremities of said top and bottom rails, one of said stiles incorporating a longitud-inail bore and having an opening in the inner edge thereof intermediate its extremities, a bolt disposed in one extremity of said bore and Iadapted to be projected from or retracted therein to correspondingly lock or unlock said door; a sheet of glass mounted in said sash; an actuating linkage in said bore having an extremity connected to said bolt; a lock housing mounted in overlying relationship `with said sheet of glass and secured only to the inner edge of said stile in overlying relationship with said opening; ia boit actuator in said housing having a portion extending through said opening and operatively connected to the other extremity of said linkage whereby operation of said bolt actuator will cause corresponding movement of said linkage `and said bolt; and a handle operatively connected to said stile and disposed in overlying relationship with said housing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,203,965 Bogenberger Nov. 7, 1916 1,564,176 Wright Aug. 5, 1924 2,125,227 Hammarle July 26, 1938 2,772,554 Schacht Dec. 4, 1956 2,910,857 Muessel Nov. 3, 1959 2,959,440 Hay Nov. 8, 1960 

1. IN A GLASS DOOR CONSTRUCTION, THE COMBINATION OF: A SASH CONSISTING OF TOP AND BOTTOM RAILS AND SPACED STILES OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE EXTREMITIES OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM RAILS, ONE OF SAID STILES INCORPORATING A LONGITUDINAL BORE AND HAVING AN OPENING IN THE INNER EDGE THEREOF INTERMEDIATE ITS EXTREMITIES, A BOLT DISPOSED IN ONE EXTREMITY OF SAID BORE AND ADAPTED TO BE PROJECTED FROM OR RETRACTED THEREIN TO CORRESPONDINGLY LOCK OR UNLOCK SAID DOOR; A SINGLE SHEET OF GLASS MOUNTED IN SAID SASH; AN ACTUATING LINKAGE IN SAID BORE HAVING AN EXTREMITY CONNECTED TO SAID BOLT; A HOUSING MOUNTED IN OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SHEET OF GLASS AND SECURED TO SAID STILE ADJACENT SAID OPENING; AND A BOLT ACTUATOR IN SAID HOUSING HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER EXTREMITY OF SAID LINKAGE WHEREBY OPERATION OF SAID BOLT ACTUATOR WILL CAUSE CORRESPONDING MOVEMENT OF SAID LINKAGE AND SAID BOLT. 